A proven fighter for our local public schools
A parent, community organizer, and champion for students, Patricia Castellanos has spent 20 years fighting for quality schools, good jobs, and clean air for our kids.
Now Patricia is running to bring her proven progressive record to the LAUSD Board to protect and strengthen our neighborhood schools.
Castellanos is the only candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party, the 33,000+ frontline teachers of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), SEIU Local 99 Education Workers United, the L.A. County Federation of Labor, and progressive elected officials like Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LAUSD Board Member Jackie Goldberg, County Supervisors Sheila Kuehl, and Hilda Solis, and many more!
From our district. For our district.
Patricia Castellanos is a lifelong resident of LAUSD District 7.
A daughter of immigrant workers, she grew up in Carson and is now raising her daughter in San Pedro.
Patricia earned her bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach and began her career as an organizer and then Director of Policy Training and Education at Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE). Patricia organized in South L.A. to address historic disinvestment in black and brown communities, creating good-paying public sector jobs right here in the district.
Patricia currently serves as Economic Development Deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, creating opportunities for our most vulnerable populations, including helping young people find their way out of poverty, homelessness, and the juvenile justice system.
If elected, she would be the only board member with a child attending an LAUSD public school.
We can trust Patricia
Because her record reflects a real commitment to our students, public schools, and working families:
- Co-founded Reclaim Our Schools L.A. (ROSLA), a coalition of parents, teachers, students, and community groups, which launched a $12 million Community Schools initiative to strengthen 30 public schools.
- Led the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports, as Deputy Director at L.A. Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), where she fought for and won a nationally recognized agreement that reduced truck pollution at the Port and surrounding neighborhoods — helping tens of thousands of local children breathe cleaner air. The campaign, which has also improved conditions for some port truck drivers, has sparked similar efforts in other ports across the country.
- Appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti to the Board of Harbor Commissioners, where she developed strategies to protect and create jobs while improving environmental quality at the largest port in the nation.
- Organized in South L.A. to address historic disinvestment in black and brown communities, creating good-paying public sector jobs right here in the district.
- Recognized as a “Woman of Achievement” by the L.A. City Council in 2015, “Democrat of the Year” by the L.A. County Democratic Party in 2012, and “Woman of the Year” by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce in 2006.
- Served on the boards of the L.A. League of Conservation Voters and the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) Joint Powers Board.
Priorities for our Public Schools
Patricia Castellanos works to bring our community together to support our public schools. Because she believes EVERY child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and access to a fully-funded public school close to home.
1. Smaller Class Sizes
Patricia will fight to reduce class sizes at all levels and for a school budget focused on students and classroom resources. Smaller class sizes lead to better learning environments that are linked to higher grades, higher graduation rates, and improved student engagement.
2. Increase Frontline Student Support
Patricia will work to provide a nurse at every school, plus additional classroom aides, counselors, and librarians. Patricia will work to ensure that the District honors its commitment to increasing student support as well as increase the number of Classified employees—teacher assistants, cafeteria workers, and custodians—who help create healthy and clean learning environments for our students.
3. Parent and Community Partnerships
Patricia will fight for a school district that partners with teachers, parents, staff, business and community stakeholders to reinvest in public education. She supports getting parents and community more involved in the decisions that affect our students’ learning environment.
4. Restore Arts & Music Classes and Career Preparation
Patricia will work to expand arts and music classes, as well as career and vocational classes, at our local schools – because they are as essential to a well-rounded education, like math, reading, science, and writing. She will work with the board to focus resources directly on student and classroom resources, including high needs schools.